Infolding machine



Oct. 13, 1932.

Fig. 1.

w. 1.. DIXON 1,883,345

INFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l ln'ven ToTz WolTer L.D'ix'on- W) ATTyS.

t 13,- 1932- w. DIXON 1,883,345

INFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenfon WalTer L. Dixon-7; by W 2AM AI-Tys.

Oct. 18, 1932. w DIXON 1,883,345

INFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnvenTon Patented Oct. 18, 1932 warren STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

W'ALTER L. Dixon, on Boston, uAssAoHUsET'rs, Assienon To REEGE {FOLDING MACHINE coMPANY,*or nos'ron, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE? .INFOLDINGJVIACHINEI Application filed Eebruary'27,1t)31, Serial No. 518,702.

Tl1is invention i sa novel infolding machine, and relates more especially to the in-' folding of the'marg 'ins of blanks composed of cloth or analogous material, for example blanks used in the manufacture of articles of apparel and other similar articles. The principles of the present invention areherein shown applied to a machine in which the" blank defining and blank folding elements are designed for theprodu'ction of-a relativet ly small shape, typically represented. as of circular outline, although various other shapes may be folded, such small folded shapes havingvarious uses, for example for the pads or connecting portions ofmens garters, which, due to then small size present substantial problems in the accurate infolding and pressing thereof. 'It is deslrable'i'n any folded blanks composed of cloth or the like thatthe infolds should not only be 'ao- J curately formed over a defining memberor templet, but should. be effectively squeezed and pressed in their folded conditlon, so;as

to maintain their shape until combined or. stitched into the final art1cle.

tion presents difficultiesfdue to the smallness of the shape, the practical difliculty in pro- .vidinga templet which willcontract out of:

the folds before the pressing, and the desirability of eflectingthepressing after the folds have been disengaged'by the defining member.

In my copending application Serial No.

'2"Z3,69 l,filed April 28, .1928there is dis- D closed an infolding'machine for small. shapes or garter p ads, the same having means for infeedingand outfeeding the blanks and a particular form of templet or die which, notwithstanding the small size, is adapted to contract out of the folds, so asto' disengage the blanks in advance of thesqueezing thereof and their removal from the bed of the machine. Such a templet embodies a complicationof delicate parts and for thatreasonis 3 not wholly satisfactory, besides which the principles oftemplet construction shownin said applicationare not available for all possible shapes of small size blanks.

. The principal obj ect .therefore of the present invention is to afford an infolding ma parts more clearly. I, I Fig; 3 is aright elevation View partially similar to Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, showchine which, in an efficient manner,"and with a large rate of output, will'infold and'press 1 blanks. of small size, without the need of a templet of the contracting type althoughthe principles hereof might in some cases be'combined. with the principles of templet contraction. A particular object of the present invention is to provide, in the machinerof the class referred to, a combination of defining,

been extracted from the-folds, but "without dislodging the blank upon the bed, the infolders are moved inwardly again upon the work and. thereupon .take partin a pressing operation by which the folds are squeezed between the-infolders and the beds .Othe'rand j further objects and, advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the subjectof infoldingmachines ofthe class referred to. I i' This condi- To the attainment objects and advantages recited the present invention consists in the novel infolding machine and the novel featuresof combination, arrangement, construction," method and operation herein illustrated or described. a r

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a right elevation of a folding machine embodying the present invention. 1 i

Fig. 2 is a top plan-view, with the front of i the-machine at the near side of the figure, and r with certain'parts broken awayto show other ing in' fore-and-aft section parts of the templet, the infolders and the bed, with blanks resting upon the bed and infolders and the templet in act of descending thereupon.

Fig. l is a'similar View showingthe'same parts in a later stage of operation wherein the templet has descended upon the blank .upon the bed. I

, Fig. 5 shows a still later stage wherein the infolders have'lifted above the level-of the bed.

Fig. 8 is a similar view at a later stage wherein the infolders have again moved inwardly, to reform the folds, and have been depressed forcibly to squeeze thefolds upon the bed. r r

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the templet showing: its interior holding portion and the surrounding circular defining portion.

.The'several operative parts of the machine maybe driven from a main or operating shaft 19 having its hearings in the two end upright portions of the general frame 20 of the machine. The frame at its upper portion supports a fixed plate. or bed 21, upon which the infolding is performed, but preferably the center of the bed is slightly raised as shown at22, forming an elevated surface or pedestal, belOwthe top level-of which the infolders may normally lie; The blanks are received and infolded on top of the pedestal or surface 22, the templet descendingv directly on to the blanks 'oni'the pedestal, and the infolders thereafter rising and moving inwardly to produce the infolds; I

. At the upper rear part of the'franle' are two bracketsfQ, the upper ends of which afford bear-ings for a longiti'idinal rock shaft on which are fixed apair of forwardly extending'arms 26 carrying at theirextremities the dieor templet 27, which is thus fitted to be swung. downwardly upon the bed and raised therefrom. The templet may be lowered and raised as in said prior application, there being shown a rear lever 29 attached to the shaft 25, and a connection or link 30 therefrom to the rear end of an arm 31 of a heavy bell crank lever, the other or upward arm 32 of which-carries a follower or cam roll 38 held 7 by the weightof the teinplet in contactwith the periphery of a camfi lmounted' on the main shaft 19,-the cam. having a contour such as to cause the lowering andlifting move ments of the templet ingcoordination with 1e in o in ane; are si mo. ment tl f ld g s 11g e s The blank-B is indicated inFigs. 3 to 8 mclusive and may consist of aslmple'piece of cloth or Sllllllll'filttfiflfil, of the'same general shape but'slightly larger than the definby the extraction of the defining part of the templet. In Fig. 8 the blank has had its infolds again depressed and squeezed, so that the blank is ready for removal after being wholly released by the infolders and templet.

The infolding means is indicated in Fig. 2 and partially in Figs. 38, and the connections in Fig. 1. Owing to the circular outline ofthe particular blank used for illustration there may be two end infolders 35 and two side infolders 36 all of simple shape converging upon the blank as defined by the templet. Thus each infolder may include a quadrant-of the shape to be folded. The entire infolder system may be carried bodily on a movable plate oritable 37 on which they are confined by plates 38. Similarly the side infolders 36 are fitted in the table and confined by plates 39. The four infolders are thus readily slidahle radially inwardly and outwardly.

Having thus described in a general way the character and location of the blank supporting bed, the infolding system, and the defining templet'reference will next be made to the power operating connections for the main shaft, and thereafter the connections from' the main shaft to the defining and infolding element. What may be termed a power shaft 42 is shown in Fig. 2, and this may be connected and disconnected from a source of power by a clutch means. The con struction may be generally similar to that shown in the ,prior application, the shaft 4L2 carrying a worm which engages with a worm wheel Men the left end of the main shaft 19; The front end of the power shaft is shown squared at45 to permit the machine to be operated manually by a crank. A single rotation of the main shaft 19 corresponds with a complete cycle of operations, and the power shaft may be motor driven at relatively high speed such for example as to produce thirty cycles or completed blanks per minute.

Referring next to the operation of theend infolders, an actuating shank L7 isshown for each of them, its inner end having a stud engaging with a recess in. a block L8 fttLilCllQQl directly on top of the infolder 35. Thereby the infolder may be moved inwardly and outwardly through the movements of the shank 47; At its outer end the shank 47 is adjust- .ably connected to a block 49 and the block 419 has a downwardly extending shank or red 50 which telescopes within a sleeve 51, these constituting an extensible lever having its ful crum on an axle 52 below which extends an arm 53' carrying a follower 5 engaging within the groove 55 of a cam disk 56 shown in Figs.-1 and 2. Thereby the rotation of the disk, carried by the shaft 19, causes the cam groove to operate through the described connections to move the infolder inwardly and outwardly at each end of the machine.

As all of the infolders may move simultaneously, with the form of blank herein illusfining plate 39. Bythis. arrangement when the two end infolders are simultaneously thrust inwardly they operate through the cams 59 to force inwardly simultaneously the two side infolders. The infolders are all shown in their inward position in Fig. 2 and the side infolders are shown in various positions in Figs. 3-8.

v The vertical movements of the table 37'carrying the infolding system'are between the lowered position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the elevated position-as shown in Figs. 5, 6

and 7, and the partly depressed or squeezing position as shown in Fig. 8. A means for effecting the up and down movements of the infolder system is herein mdlcated to the extent of the downwardlyextending connectors or links 66 arranged adj acent to the four cor ners of the table 37, as appeal-sin Fig. 1. The further connections by which these means are lifted and lowered are not herein shown, in

asmuch as such connections are shown in full in said prior application,commencing with the four downwardly extending links- 66, having the same reference number, as herein, and the trains of connection 66-93 whereby the rotation'of the main shaft'efiects the coordinated lifted and lowering and pressing movements of the infolder system in a manner to carry out the steps already described. The bodily upward and downward move ments of the infolder system are permitted by reason of the telescoping character of the connection 50-51 by which inward and outward movements are communicated from the cam 56 to the' individual .infolders.

The die or templet '27 is mounted at the front ends of the-carrying arms 26, said arms having extensions 95, beneath which is directly attached a heavy frame plate or body 96 on which the defining and other parts of the templet are mounted.

With this invention the requirement of contraction of the templet to extractit from the folds may be dispensed with, and a noncontractible or 'so-called solid templet is shown, supportedbeneaththe body 96. Thus, extending downwardly.fromthebody 96 is shown a depending post or leg 97, attached to the body 96. The post 97 maybe generally cylindrical, with a shoulder in contact with the under side of the body, and a reduced diameter extending through an aper-,

ture in the body, with screw threads formed at the upper end, and an attaching nut 98 employed rigidly to secure the post to the body. The post 97 is preferably hollow, having a longitudinal bore 99 through its upper portion, with an enlarged bore orchamber 100 at itslower portion, these accommodating the movable part to be described. 'At

the top of the post is an apertured end 101, with its aperture relatively reduced or restricted in diameter, to form a guide, and

similarly the bottom end of the post at 102 i may have a reduced opening for similar purposes.

he actual blank defining plate 103 is shown attached by screws 104. to the'bottom end of the post 97, as seen in bottom view in Fig. 9. plet plate 103, which defines the folds, and which for illustration is shown circular, is a non-contractible defining plate mounted in.

fixed relation to the templet body, so that its only movement is a downward and upward swinging movement about the axle 25 as a center. The templet plate 103 is shown cent-rally cut away to receive theholder plate about to be described.

The holder plate 106 of the templet is mounted so that it may occupy the cut out area within the defining plate 103, and it is formed with wings 107 which overlap the underside 102 of the post 97.

By this arrangement the tem- The holder plate 106 is shown occupying it the cut out p'ortion of the defining platel03 iinF'igs. 4,. 5 and 6,-this being the relative position of the two plates when the-defining plate rests upon the blank. 'At other times the holding plate stands relatively lower than thedefining plate, sometimesbearing .105

uponthe blank to hold it against displacement, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and some times elevated above the bed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to permit the extraction of folded blanks and insertion of unfolded ones.

As an additional feature the holder plate 106 hereof is shown as provided with a downwardly standingsurface or projection 108, shown in the form of a circular disk, and serving to impress or embossa design upon the finishedblank. For example the plate 108 may be a concentric circle considerably smaller than the outline ofthe finishedblank, .f

and the underlying bed or pad 22 may be formedwith a corresponding sink or recess 23, above which the material mayinitially' lie,'as seen in Fig. 3, and into which itis depressed to form the embossing or design,

as seen in Figs. Lto 8. It is to be understoodthat the elements taking part in the operations upon the blank may be'maintained in heated condition, for example by heating the bed and pad, so as to assist pre serving more efiiciently the infolded and embossed condition of the blank, 1

The templet holding member 106, and the embossing attachment 108, are shown at iached by screw 109 to a block or carrier 110 mounted to slide through the aperture 102 during the relative movements of the holding plate. The carrier block 110 is shown formed at the lower end a stem 112 slidable in the aperture 101 at the top of the post 97. This shank also may have rocking movement in passing through said aperture, for which reason the aperture may have rounded edges as indicated in Fig. 4.

Vhile the carrier block 110 and its shank 112 may be of various sectional shapes, they are herein indicated as circular in section.

The carrier or block 110 however has its surface elements 111 out of alinement with the length of the shank, and indeed at a distinct slant, so that in the relative movement of the carrier through the lower nd of the post the carrier and shank are shifted or swung laterally, as will be best seen by comparison be tween F igs.-3 and 4. Stated differently, the

carrier 110 has surfaces 111 constituting cams which, when shifted longitudinally effect relative lateral movemen By reason of this feature it is insured that when the teinplet, with the post 97 and the defining plate 103 lift slightly, for example from the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. 7, the holding plate 106 will not be displaced relatively .toLthe bed and the blank thereon. The incline of the cam sides of the carrier110 is determined by drawing imaginary line from the'axis of the axle 25, about which the templet swings, to the approximate center of the carrier 1 0, and laying out the slanting edges t a right angle or tangent thereto. Looking at tl'llS feature in another way, and

considering the holder and carrier as temporarily in fixed position upon the blank overlying the bed, the defining plate 103 and its post 9'? are swung upwardly on an incline,

7 due to the substantial elevation of the axle 25 above the level of the bed, and the slanting contour of the carrier sides 111 accommodates this slanting movement ofthe defining plate and post, so that as the latter rise and swing lcftwardly as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 they move along the predetermined slant, and thus avoid actual displacement of the carrier and holding plate] During this movement the carrier and its shank s. n relativethe post;

hen the operations are comg'lleted, and the templet is to be lifted bodily, the holding i 013611111511 be raised with the defining plate, "and for this purpose the upper end of th 112 is shown threaded, and fitted with f nterlocking stop nuts 113, deterpair ()1 7 1111111119 the relatively lower a position ofth holding plate, as seen in F ig. 8. It is important that r lative rotation of the shank 112 andcarrier 111 be prevented, when these are circular in form, and for this purpose a radius arm 115 is sh wn attached by a screw device 116 to the upper part of the shank 112, above the stop nuts 113, this radius arm extending rearwardly, or to the right in Figs. 3 and 4, where it has secured to it a depending shank 117 slidab-le through an aperture formed at 118 in the templet body 96, there being a guide plate 119' mounted on the body 96, which guide plate confines the shank 117 against lateral movement while permitting certain fore-and-aft movement or play during the relative tilting of the holding plate shank 112.

In order to hold the holoing plate 10 5; down upon the blank during the rise of the .elining plate, instead of relying upon gravity, a spring or resilient device may be used. Thus bearing down upon the top end of the shank 102 is shown a bar 121, slidable near i s free end'between a pair of upright guides 122 mounted on the templet body, and pivoted at its left end to a pair of upright standards 123. A spring 125 is arranged to pull down constantlyuponthe bar 121 so that the resilient pressure is communicated to thrust 1e shank 112 and the holding plate carried he relatively downward to the position as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8.

The supply of blanks to, and the removing of n from, the bed may be generally simithe feeding means as shown in said application, this operation. being prefc.ably automatic rather than manual. in.

connection wit 1 the feeding operations the machine is shown prov ded with a forwardly extending shelf arranged to hold piles of of the infeedin evice as it comes down in its I g outward or retracted position.

The infeeding carrier 146 corresponds in shape and size to the unfolded blank, which for example may be circular. It is in'the nature of an open tray or rack within which the successive blanks may be set by hand, and through the bottom of which the blanks may pass in the folding position. The infeeder has astem 147 connected to a curved arm 1 19 arranged to oscillate rearwardly and forwardly to carrythe infeeder to and from infolding position. The rear end of the arm 149 is formed with hubs 150engaging an axle mounted at the top end of a plunger or rod capable of vertical sliding movement and rotation.

In each cycle the infeeder 1 16 lifts bodily to clear the 14st and then swings rearwardly to infolding position over the pa( 122-, and then descends upon the pad and infolders, while after the infolding-iand re- 158 with the forwarde'nd of a cam lever 160,

the lever carrying a follower 162 engaging the groove 168 of a camdisk 16 1 mounted on a counter shaft 165. The contour of the groove 163 is such as to efiect the properly timed lifting and lowering movements of the infeeding 7 device. 7 I

The rearward and forward movements of the in'feeder 146 maybe effected by the foilowing cOnnections. The plunger is shown as fitted within an oscillating sleeve 166, the upper end of whichhas an extending arm 167. Above the arm167 the plunger has a similar arm 168 and thesetwo arms are con nected by a pin 169, so that oscillation of the sleeve will bodily swingthe plunger and feed ing devices. The sleeve 166 isrotatablewithin outer guiding sleeves 170 and 171, the sleeve 166 carrying a rock arm 172 by which it may be oscillated. The rock arm 172 has a suitable loose connection with a cam lever 174, the follower 176 of which engages the peripheral groove 177 in the cam disk 164. By

the cooperation of the two cams in the disk 16% the swinging, lifting and lowering movements of the feeding devices are effected. The I cam disk 16% is rotated uniformly, with the main shaft 196, by a pair of meshing gears-of equal size, tion. The outfeeding member is shown as a suction nozzle 1'? 9 mounted on the swinging end as shown in said prior applicaof a carrying pipe 180. This pipe may be supported by the same hub device 150 that carries the infeeding arm 1491so as to partake of the up and down and as well the rearward and forward movements of the infeeding de vice. The outfeeding device however, which is shown in its blank engaging position in Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted, after lifting the blank by suction from the bed to swing rearwardly and release or discharge the blank into a suitable receptacle arranged behind the bed. The alternate suction and" pressure required for the picking up and the discharging of the blank may be supplied by means of a hose 182 extending to thepipe 180 from a pneumatic cylinder 184, the piston 185 of which is reciprocated through. a rod-186 connected to a crank or pin 187 mounted for convenience on the cam disk 56; the cylinder being pivoted at 188 topermit the swinging of the cylinder during therotation of the crank; By this arrangement the piston is reciprocated within the cylinder, producing firstithe necessary suction, followed by. the compres sion of air for the purposes of outfeedin g the successiveinfolded blanks. 1

' The'prior application may bereferred to for any details of construction and operation which are notherein fully described because forming noessential part of, thenoveltyof the present application. For example the. timing of the various'cams, cranks ,etc.,, and

the resulting operations, are fully indicated in the prior appllcatlon, except tor such obvious differences as are necessary to carry out thesuccess'ive operations herein ndicated. a

11 W}! H713 l uenciany s e king 1c opera ion 0 e present invention is in accordance with the successive illustrations,in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3.1nay be considered to representthe, initial position, with the templetelevated and theinfolders retracted and lowered, this also representing the final position, preparatory to they commencement ofa new cycle; while the intermediate positions, or the important ones 'of them, are illustrated by the successive fig- I ures 'or diagrams i to 8 mcluslve,

' Commencing with the POSlUOn Of Fig. 3, wherein a fresh blank B has been fed upon the bed or pedestal 22 the operations may be as follows. Figs. 8 to 8 the infeeding and outfeeding devices have been omitted, tosimplify the show ing of the novel features hereof, as indeed theyvmight be omitted in case of manual positioning of theblanks upon the bed and removal therefrom. As the main shaft makes a single rotation the following described operations take place. 7 The templet first descendslinto defining relation upon the blank, as shown inFig. 4. During this descendingmovement of the templet the holding plate 106 first contacts theblank upon the bed, and it thereupon relatively yields upwardly as the defining plate 103 completes its downward movement. The downward movement of the defining plate corresponds withthe inclinationof thesides of the block 110 carryingithe holding plate. The result of this cooperation is that the holding plate first engages the center of the blankand maintains it steadily in position while the defining plate comesdowii into defining. relation. There is no lateral displacement of the holding plate during the descentof the defining p late,;nor subsequent ly during the relative rise thereof. Passing now from the F ig l; tothe Fig. 5 position, the infolders .36, which have re mained below the level of thepedesta-l 22, are bodily lifted to a level above the pedestal and above the templet plate overlying the same, as shown in Fig. 5. This motion is succeeded by the inwardor folding movement of the in-. folderstothe succeeding position as shown in Fig; 6, the margins of the blank being turned in over the'margins of the defining plate, preliminarily forming the folded blank, which however is occupied by the non-contractible definingplate103. Y r V Y Instead f-employing a eontractible-'defin-- ing plate the operations of-the present *invenbeyond their normal outward position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and Fig. 7 shows them somewhat further wlthdra-wn, giving a safe clearance for the next succeeding operation. As

soon as the infolders have thus cleared the outer edges of the folded blanks the templet f level of the blank and infolders.

is bodily lifted partially or to a slight extent, as'indicated in Fig. 7, so that the defining plate 103 is'elevated substantially above the The defining. plate slightly opens up the folds and snaps out of them, which is permitted due to the fact that the folds are freshly formed and not yet permanently creased. During this elevating movement of the defining plate and the resulting removal ofthe same from the folds the blank itself is held firmly in position by the holding plate 106, which is forced relatively downward by its own weight and spring 125. The blank thereby is prevented from being displaced. Fig. 7 shows the parts in this position, with the infolders temporarily retracted and the templet defining plate relatively lifted, in which position the defining plate is held until the completion of the folding and pressing operations.

Following the Fig. 7 position the infolders are promptly moved inwardly over the slightly opened up folds, as seen by comparison of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. The folds are readily again turned in and down, the inturned margins being insufiicient to overlap or conflict with the holding plate. WVhen the infolders have thus again reached their inward position they are bodily pulled downwardly for the blanksqueezing or pressing operation, and the folds are firmly and permanently pressed and creased by this action of the infolders forcing them against the heated bed or pedestal. Fig. 8 shows the parts in this p0- sition.

Following the Fig. 8 position of the parts, and after a sufficient lapse of time for the proper pressing of the blanks, the pressure of the infolders is relaxed, and they are slightly elevated and retracted to their outward position as shown in Fig. 7, and thereafter lowered and restored to their initial position as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. During these return movements of the infolders the templet is caused to resume its lifting movement, passing from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig- 3. This leaves the completely folded and pressed blank exposed upon the bed. During the pause in which the templet remains in its elevated position the blank feeding devices may operate- The infeeder 146, lying idly at the folding position,

is swung forwardly to blank receiving P0515 tion as shown in Fig. 2, while the outfeeder 179 is swung forwardly to a positionabove the blanln'whereupon suction is applied and as the feedingdevices descend the blank is picked up by the suction, so that on the re- V fied. The bed or pedestal constitutes a support for each blank to be infolded. The de fining plate 103 of the templet may be described as a definer arranged to move into defining position upon the'blank and to retract therefrom, namely by the movement of the templet toward and from the-support. The holding plate 106 may be considered as a holder, also arrenged to move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the latter upon the support and to retract therefrom. With these elements is combined infolding means'arranged to infold the edge or edges of the blank upon the definer. The machine is operated by timed actuating means with connections to the definer, the holder and the infolding means such that the infolding means twice advances'and retracts for each blank, while the definer between the first retraction and the second advance of the infolding means retracts away from the blank while the blank'remains held by the holder. This combination gives the advantages referred to and dispenses with the need of contraction of the defining part of the templet.

Following the final retraction of the infolding means the holder retracts from the blank and therefrom the folded blank may be taken out and a fresh one inserted either manually or automatically. Other aspects of the invention and other combinations and subcombinations which are novel will be pointed out in the claims. 7

While the blank holder and the blank definer are both mounted in cooperative relation upon the same templet they may, broadly speaking, be independently mounted but actuated, in accordance with the principles just set forth. It is preferable that they both be mounted on the templet, and relatively movable. While the holder might be fast on the templet and the definer relatively liftable the reverse arrangement is preferred, as illustrated. The holder might be made use of to bring an unfolded blank into position on the bed or subsequently to remove the completed blank from the bed.

It will thus be seen that there has been described an. infolding machine of the class referred tolembodying theprinciplesand attaining the objectsof the present invention.

iio

like, a support for the blank to be infolded,

a definer arranged to moveinto defining posie tion upon the blank and retract therefrom, a holder arranged to move into postion upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to retract therefrom, infoldin g means arranged to infold the blank edge upon the definer, and timed actuating meansfor said definer, holder and'infolding means, such that the infolding means twice advances and retracts for each blank, and the definer between'the first retraction and second advance of the mfoldmg means retracts from the blank while the blank remains held by the I holder.

2. In an automatic mach ne for infolding the edges of blanks of cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank to be infolded, a deliner arranged tomove into defining position upon the blank and retract therefrom, a holder arranged to move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to retract therefrom, infolding means arrangedto infold the blank edge upon the dcfiner, and timed actuating means for said definer, holder and infolding means, such that the definer moved to the support to define the blank, and thereafter the infolding means infolds the blank uponthe definer and retracts, and thereafter the definer retracts from the blank while the blank is held by the hold-er, and thereafter the inioldin means again operates to complete the inrolding retracts, and thereafter the holder retracts from the support.

3. In an automatic machine for infolding the edges of blanks of cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank to be infolded, a definer arranged to move into defining posi-' t'on upon the blank and retract therefrom, a holder arranged to move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to retract therefrom, infolding means arranged to infold the blank edge upon the definer, and timed actuatingmeans for said definer, holder and infolding means, such that the infolding means twice advances and retracts for each blank, and the definer between the first retraction and second ed 4 Vance of the infolding means retractsfrom the blank while the blank remains held by the holder, and the holder after the second retraction of the infolding means retracts from the blank.

4. In an automatic machine for infoldingv Y the edges of blanks of cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank to be infolded, a definer arranged to move into defining position upon the blank and retract therefrom,'a holder arranged to move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to retract therefrom, infoldng'means arranged to infold the blank edge" upon the definer, and timed actuating means for said definer, holder and infolding means,

such that the infolding means twice advances and retracts for each blank, and the definer,

between the first retraction and second ads vance of the infolding means retracts from theblank while the blank remains held by the holder, and the holder after the second retraction of the infolding means retracts from the blank; and timed means operating after such retraction of deliner, infolding means and holder, for outfeeding the infolded blank and infeeding anunfolded one to the support. An 1nf0ld1ng machine as 1n claim 1 and wherein after the second advance of the 1n-v folding means pressure is applied to squeeze the infblds between the infolding means and support.

6. In a machine for infoldingthe edgesand embossing the middle of fabric blanks, a blank support, a blank definer, edge infold-v ing means, and complementary means associated with the support and definer respectively for embossing a substantial area of the middle part of the blank, without penetrating the samef i ".f. An infolding machine as in claim 1 and wherein the supportis recessed and the hold-' er carries a prQ ectmg part cooperating therewith to form a depressionior embossing on the blank.

8. In an automatic machine for infolding the edges of blanks of cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank-to be infolded, a templet movable toward and from the sup:

port, a definer carried by the templet and ar "ranged to move 1nto defining posltionupon the blank and retract therefrom, a holder carried by thetemplet and arranged to move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to re-.

tract therefrom, infolding means arranged to infold the blank edge upon the definer, and timed actuating means for said definer, holder and infolding means, such that the infolding means twice advances and retractsfor eachblank, first while the definer is in position upon the blank and second after the definer. has been retracted from the blank and the blank remains held by the holder,

9. An infolding machine as in claim 8 and wherein the definer covers the margins of the area to be infolded and is inte iorly recessed, and the holder covers-the middlepart of the area and is accommodated in such. recess. 7 7 i 10. An infoldmg machine'as iIlClZtllll 8 and wherein the templet has a depending post to which the definer is secured, and the holder is mounted on a separate shank shiftable longitudinally relatively to the post.

11. An infolding machlne as in cla m 8 and wherein the templet has a depending post which the definer is secured, and the holder is mounted on a separate shank shiftable longitudinally relatively to the post, with spring means pressing the holder from the definer, and a stop limiting such movement or" the holder.

, 12. In an automatic machine for infolding the edges of blanks of cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank to be infolded, a templet swingabletoward and from the support about a rear horizontal axis, a de finercarried by the templet and arranged to move into defining position upon the blank and retract therefrom, a holder mounted. movably upon the templet and arranged tov move into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon thesupport, and to retract therefrom, and to yield toward the definer as the templet brings the latter to the blank, infolding means arranged to infold' the blank edge upon the definer, and timed actuating means for said definer, holder and infolding means; thedefiner having a depending post by whieh'it is connected rigidly with the templet and which post stands vertical in lowered position, and the holder having a shank by which it is connected yieldingly with the templet and which shank is mounted for relative oblique motion upon the templet, whereby the holder may remain immovably upon the blank during relative movements of the templet and definer.

13. In an automatic machine for infolding the edges of blanks or" cloth, leather or the like, a support for the blank to be infolded, a templet swingable toward and from the support about an axis removed from the plane of the support, a definer carried by the templet and arranged to move into defining position upon the blank and retract therefrom on an inclined path about said axis, a holder carried by the templet and. arranged to move relatively thereon about said axis into position upon a portion of the blank to hold the blank upon the support, and to retract therefrom, infolding means arranged to infold the blank edge uponthe definer, and timed actuating means for said definer, holder and infolding means, such that the infolding means twice advances and retracts for each blank, first while the definer is in position upon the blank and second after the definer has been retracted from the blank and the blank remains held by the holder.

14. An infolding machine as in claim 13 and wherein the holder is mounted on a shank slidable and tiltable in the templet, with cam means causing it to tilt relatively during relative movement, whereby it may hold a fixed position on the blank during retraction of the defining member.

15. An infolding machine in claim 13 and wherein the holder is mounted on a shank slidable and tiltable in the templet, with cam means causing it to tilt relatively during relative movement, whereby it may hold a fined position on the blank during retraction of the defining member, and means preventing turning of said holder and shank during relative sliding movement.

16. In an automatic machine for infolding the edges ofblanks of cloth, leather or the like, a flat supportfor the blank to be infolded, a definer arranged to descend into defining position upon the blank and lift therefrom, a holder arranged to descend into position upon a portion of the blank to clamp the blank upon the support and to lift therefrom, an infolder arranged to infold the blank edge upon the definer, actuating means for lowering the definer and holder upon the blank, then moving the infolder in and. out, then elevating the definer, then moving the infolder in and out and then elevating the holder.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

' ALTER L. DIXON. 

